Securing means or fastener for covers of burial vaults



Feb. 11, 19 47.. g :RLADAM 2,415,398

SECURING MEANS OR FASTENER FDR COVERS OF BURIAL VAULTS Filed Jun 16, 1944 a [8 INVENTOR.

, ORE/P7 /ID Patented Feb. 11, 1947 UNITED STATES OFFICE SECURING MEANS OR FASTENER FOR COVERS OF BURIAL VAULTS 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to burial vaults, and more particularly to a burial vault constructed of concrete, plastics, metals or any other suitable materials, the same bein provided at one end or side with a closure, and means for positively and permanently sealing the lid or closure firmly closed to the body of the vault in the process of completing an interment.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a water-proofed burial vault comprising a main body portion and a sealing member or lid, which are in their closed relation united by the fusion of unstable materials applied at their meeting margins, with means for positively and firmly locking the sealing member or lid in closed relation to the body portion, to the end that the entire vault structure, including the jointat the lid and body portion, may be rendered completely water-proof in every respect, for burial purposes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in an elongated burial vault of the kind referred to, a vault body open at one end and having the margins thereat recessed or stepped in an outwardly flared formation, for receiving a complementally marginally recessed or stepped lid or sealing member, there being a raised rib or lip formed outwardly along the lower inner margin of the vault opening adapted to engage the outer rib or flange of the lid, for locking the lower side of the lid to the vault, and co-operative means upon the upper, inner wall of the vault adjacent the opening thereof, for locking the upper side of the lid to its seat, when the lid is forcedinwardly to close and seal the vault.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other and additional objects and advantages as may appear from the specification, attention is directed to the accompanying drawing as embodying certain preferred forms of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vault formed in accordance with this invention, the forward end thereof being shown as open, and with the inner margins of the opening formed in recessed or stepped relation, outwardly flared, for engaging a lid or sealing member complementally recessed or stepped upon its margins.

Figure 2 is a detail view in perspective and upon an enlarged scale of one form of locking member for attachment to the upper, inner wall of the vault adjacent the frontal opening thereof as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing another form of locking member, adaptable for use in lieu of the form shown in Figure 2.

' Figure 4 is a cross section on a greatly enlarged scale, taken on the line A-A of Figure 1, showing the vault lid as partly open.

Figure 5 is a'view similar to that of Figure 4, showing the vault lid or sealing member as completely closed, and locked in place.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, sectional detail on the scale of Figures 4 and 5, taken longitudinally through the frontal, upper corner of the vault with lid closed thereon, showing however in lieu of the locking member employed in Figures 4 and 5 and detailed in Figure 3, the other form of locking member detailed in Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a front end elevation on a scale somewhat larger than that of Figure 1, showing a vault with lidor sealing member closed thereon, with the closing lever still mounted in place thereon.

In constructing an improved vault or casket receptacle in accordance with this invention, 1 provide a vault body represented generally at l, the same being open at one end as shown in the drawing, and an end cover, lid or sealing member 13, the said vault body being constructed of concrete, plastics, metals or other suitable materials, and so formed and designed to offer the maximum of resistance to deterioration or disintegration through the effects of moisture, frost, variations in temperature, and such other conditions as burial vaults are commonly subjected to in use, or as deposited within the ground.

The lid I3 is dimensioned to nicely fit within the open end of the vault body I, and the inner margins of this open end, as Well as the lateral margins of the lid, are complementally recessed and stepped, as shown at 3 and 3 respectively, so that these two elements may fit together snugly and closely, and also for the purpose of provid ing effectual surfaces for engaging and holding any suitable sealing flux or compound, as indicated at l8, which may be in the form of emulsified asphalt or any other suitable sealing agent. The outer margin of the base-or bottom of the tubular anchor I l.

vault body I at the open end thereof, is raised to provide a transversely extended rib or flange 19 at this lower side of the open end, for forming and defining a channel I911 for receiving and holding the lower and outer flange or rib of the lid, in the manner indicated at 4 in Figures 4 and 5, and thus to lock the lid at its lower side or margin to its seat in the open end of the vault body.

In accordance with the invention and for looking the upper side of the lid iii to its seat, a tubular and interiorly threaded bolt anchor H is firmly embedded, medially in the inner face of the upper side of the vault body, perpendicularly, and in suitably spaced relation to the open end of the vault. This tubular bolt anchor l I is thus adapted to threadedly engage and hold a set screw l2a for supporting a locking member later to be described. Similarly, a tubular and interiorly threaded lock-pin anchor flu is embedded medially in the innerface of, the upper side of the lid l3, and is thus adapted to thread edly engage the complementally threaded outer end of a lock-pin l2, which is at its inner end adapted to fall horizontally below the set screw l2a. when the lid i3 is pressed to its seat. For

them frictionally engaging and firmly holding the inner end of the lock pin l2, various forms of gripping members may be provided and secured in place by the set screw [2a, in proper and operative alignment with the lock-pin l2,

ance space being slightly less in width than the diameter of the lock pin l2. This gripping member is securely mounted in place on the inner face of the upper side of the vault, by passing the set screw lZa (Fig. 6) through the bore 1 upwardly, and then turning the screw up into the In this mounting the clearance space a is turned inwardly in alignment with the lock pin l2, and the leaves 5 thus flare outwardly at each side, in position to engage the inner end of the lock pin and direct same through the clearance 5a as the lid I3 is closed over the open end of the vault. In the use of this form of lock or gripping member, when the Vault is ready for sealing, the lid is positioned at the open end of the vault with the lower and outer flange thereof properly located within the channel l9a of the base. The upper end of the lid is then pressed inwardly, causing the lock pin I2 to enter through the clearance space 5a between the leaves 5, and while these leaves readily spread apart for the entrance of the pin, the latter may not thereafter be withdrawn owing to the fact that the pin is of greater diameter than the width of the clearance, and any outward movement or tendency of the pin is instantly stopped through the friction of the pin upon the adjacent margins of the leaves, causing them to pinch inwardly upon the pin.

In the form of the gripping member shown in Figure 3, the square top plate of the member is similarly pierced with a bore 9 by which the member is secured in place by means of the set 'screw 12a, at the upper side of the vault, similarly' as alreadydescribed for the first described 4 gripping member. This form of gripping member is integrally provided with a downwardly and outwardly slanted or inclined leaf or wing B,

which is pierced with a transversely extended oblong slot l9 positioned medially on the leaf in direct alignment with the lock pin l2 as same moves horizontally inward on the closing of the lid. The width of this slot is just sufiicient to permit the lock pin to pass therethrough as the leaf 8 is pressed resiliently inwardby the inward movement of the pin on the closing of the lid, but the pin is effectually locked against any outward movement by the frictional contact of the pin against the upper and lower margins of the slot, and by the biting action of these margins upon the pin, in a manner similar to that just described in reference to the first described form of gripping member. Thus the operation of this second form of gripping member or look is substantially similar to that of the first form.

Since considerable power and force may be required for snugly closing the lid to its seat in the end of the vault, in order to facilitate this operation I provide a lever (B, the same being secured at its upper end medially to the outer face of the margin of the upper side of the vault at the open end thereof, by means of a set screw Id passed through this end of the lever and into an interiorly threaded tubular anchor element, in a manner similar to the mounting of the said gripping elements already described. A fulcrum stud H is passed through the lever in spaced relation below its fixed upper end, there being a press disk or head I6 on the inner end of this stud.

In use, after the casket is placed in the vault and the lid set in place in th open end thereof, the lever is mounted in place as explained. Then by pressing the lower free end of this lever inwardly, the upper side of the lid may be forced closely to its seat and locked in place by the lock pin and gripping member as described. When this is done the lever may be readily removed by merely removing the set screw l4. With the lid thus closed and sealed and locked by engagement of the lock pin with the form of gripping member selected, and with the body of the vault properly water-proofeda perfect interment is assured. While as her shown the lid is represented as locked at bottom and top thereof; the described locking elements might be arranged laterally 'upon the vault opening and upon the lid, if preferred. Moreover a plurality of the lockpins and frictional gripping members as described, might be mounted in spaced relation entirely around the margins of the vault body at the opening thereof and around the margins of the lid, for locking the lid in place, the lower locking flange of the vault opening being then omitted.

And while I have here shown and described certain preferred structural features of my invention, the same may be changed or modified in such details as may be found desirable, within the scope however of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A look for frictionally securing a lid to its seat in the open end or side of a container such as a vault or box, said lock comprising an angular attachment plate secured to a margin of the opening of the vault or box inwardly of said opening, and a pair of leaves or Wings extended perpendicularly from two adjacent margins of the angular plate and with a clearance space thereinbetween adapted for receiving and passing inwardly a lock pin extended in axial, horizontal alignment therewith from a margin of the lid, but gripping same against withdrawal.

2. In a locking device for frictionally securing the lid of a container, box or case, to its seat upon the open end or side thereof, an attachment plate formed with two adjacent and straight margins angularly disposed to each other, and a pair of wings extended perpendicularly from these margins to one side of the plate with an intervening clearance space between the wings, whereby a lock pin mounted upon the lid of the container may be passed between the wings and through the said clearance space, and frictionally gripped by the margins of the wings against withdrawal, the said attachment plate of the locking device being adapted to be secured flatly to an inner wall of the container immediately inward of the open end or side thereof with the wings turned inwardly and flared towards the open end or side for receiving and passing the lock pin of the lid.

- ROBERT ADAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

